6.2.1 Integrated in regular school education:

As described in chapter 3.3. Careers Education in compulsory schools also includes topics related to stimulating pupil’s entrepreneurial spirit. As an example, the aims of the topic: ‘Education, Training and Vocation’, are to enable the pupils to be able to:

• Express examples of ideas (form 3),
• Convert ideas through project work in class (form 6)
• Relate to innovation and entrepreneurship (form 9)

At upper secondary level of education, topics related to entrepreneurship is often introduced through cross curricular student projects, like the task of creating a virtual company, but courses specifically targeted towards youngster who already has expressed an interest in entrepreneurial activities are also being offered.

An example of the latter is a course provided by Copenhagen Business School, called Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship (CSE-lab). SCE-lab is targeted towards students who are interested in working with entrepreneurial projects, and to test or realize business ideas. SCE-lab manage and facilitate a student incubator, which offers an office space, business development sparring and legal and economic counselling. The school also provides teacher training and has the overall aim, to bridge research and commercialization, for example through offering networking events for students, teachers, researchers, and businesses interested in entrepreneurship.

(http://cse-lab.dk/)

6.2.2 In School:

As one of several educational institutions UCC has partnered with INDEX, an organization to develop didactic teaching methods and concepts. This makes it possible to work with creative and innovative solutions to real challenges for people. The target for the project "Education designed to Improve Life “ is to make greater pupils in primary schools and colleges to co-creators and to act in both the local communities and the world community.

INDEX is a Danish-based non-profit organization biennial awards world's biggest design award in Copenhagen under the name 'INDEX: Award. The special concerning this design is that are designs that have life-enhancing designed for people locally and globally.

Students in elementary school and high school can now use school time to create designs that solve some of the various problems in the world and improve human life. Design to Improve Life includes training concepts and materials for schools and colleges. The project will provide teachers with skills to teach the processes of innovation and creative thinking:

"Students should give suggestions on how to solve both local and global problems. The aim is to motivate them to be co-creators and participants in society. It's one thing to get a good idea! Another is to give the idea form". ..“The idea is that learning occurs in the context of public school and high school purposes, so it becomes an integral part of compulsory education”, says project leader from UCC, Per Bak Christensen.

The teaching concept can be used in all subjects and at all grade levels. Students must identify problems, which can range from "future classroom" over "clean drinking water to Africa" to "integration in Scandinavia".

The pictures: Two Award-Winning Designs: LifeStraw from 2005 to ensure access to clean drinking water in the Third World - in a very simple way it eliminates bacteria, viruses and parasites. The winner from 2011 is a bike helmet, which is shaped like a collar with an airbag inflated in event of an accident.

Going mainstream: In January 2012 begins the first course at University College UCC, to retrain teachers in the teaching of design processes. It is a pilot course for school and secondary school teachers, which includes the Sønderbro School on Amager and Østervang School in Roskilde are included. Østervang school. who has profiled itself on the practical-artistic, innovative and learn clean, it needs to gain theoretical knowledge on innovation pedagogy.

"I believe our children benefit greatly from this form of pedagogy, and our community too. Denmark can no longer live on mass production, so if we are to survive, it is necessary to think creatively and out of the box," says Superintendent Lars Nielsen. Lars Nielsen has an expectation that all teachers should eventually be equipped to teach in innovative pedagogy.

6.2.3 Outside of School:

As described in chapter 6.1.3., the Internet Portal “Vækstguiden” provides an overview of all Danish initiatives, relevant to new entrepreneurs. There are numerous different offers on the webpage – e.g. links to relevant courses, free advice connected to start-up your own business and like. An example of the latter, is the Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is an event targeted toward innovators and job creators who launch startups that “ bring ideas to life”, as they put it.

(http://www.startvaekst.dk/uge46.dk)

Another example is Venture Cup is a self-owned non-profit organization, overseen by a board of directors from Universities, Business Schools and private companies. The purpose of Venture Cup is two-fold; to inspire and motivate entrepreneurship among students, and to turn academic knowledge into viable high-growth businesses. Venture Cup works to inspire and empower university students and researchers to develop their ideas into successful companies. They focus on entrepreneurship as a practical discipline, by exposing participants to a great network of experienced entrepreneurs and business people.

Venture Cup provides a number of different activities, like two yearly national competitions, for young people with new ideas. They also helps to provide funding and networking opportunities for innovators. The advisors at Venture Cup are all volunteers and take on a mentoring role with the teams by helping them improve and develop their business ideas to reach the next level. Advisors are typically serial entrepreneurs or people with strong experience in their industry.

(http://www.venturecup.dk/)